Landrieu calls Russian ban "badge of honor"

BATON ROUGE - Senator Mary Landrieu called an entry ban levied against her and other lawmakers by Russian officials Thursday "a badge of honor."

Landrieu was one of nine U. S. lawmakers or officials targeted by the Russian government after President Obama announced a new round of sanctions on individuals close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Landrieu is the chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as well as a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. She announced earlier Thursday that the Senate Energy Committee would hold hearings next week on natural gas exports.

"It will not stop me from using my power as chair of the Energy Committee to promote America as an energy superpower and help increase energy exports around the world," Landrieu said in an emailed statement. "We must minimize Russia's influence over Europe, the former Soviet states-especially Ukraine that has fought so long for freedom-and our allies."